Klose hat-trick saves Germany from defeat in Finland

September 11, 2008 07:26 IST

Striker Mirolsav Klose scored a hat-trick as Germany were held to a surprising 3-3 draw by Finland in their Group Four World Cup qualifier in Helsinki on Wednesday.

Finland led three times, but Klose replied each time to deny the Finns, who have never reached the World Cup finals, a first win over Germany for 85 years. Klose's final goal came just seven minutes from time.

Germany are top of the group, a point ahead of Russia who opened their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wales in Moscow, though the Euro 2008 semi-finalists left it late.

Wales spurned a real chance to take an early lead when Gareth Bale saw his 17th minute penalty saved by Igor Akinfeyev.

Striker Roman Pavlyuchenko showed his Tottenham Hotspur team mate how it should be done when he scored Russia's opener from a penalty five minutes later.

Wales equalised with a fine goal from Joe Ledley after 67 minutes before Pavel Pogrebnyak lashed home the winner nine minutes from time.

Romania, who made a group stage exit at Euro 2008 and were beaten 3-0 at home by Lithuania in their Group Seven opener on Saturday, squeaked a narrow 1-0 win over Faroe Islands.

Razvan Vasilic scored the only goal after 59 minutes, 10 minutes after Romania were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of defender Sorin Ghionea for violent conduct.

Ukraine followed up their opening 1-0 win over Belarus in Group Six on Saturday with a 3-1 win in Kazakhstan, Andriy Shevchenko getting on the scoresheet for the second successive match.

Serhiy Nazarenko scored twice for Ukraine, which keeps the pressure on group favourites Croatia and England who were playing later in Zagreb.

Belarus got their first points with a predictable 3-1 win over Andorra, though the last two goals only came in the last 12 minutes from Vitali Rodionov and Vyacheslav Hleb, a minute from time.

Israel, bidding to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since their only appearance in 1970, scored a 2-1 win in Moldova. They are unbeaten after two games in Group Two following their 2-2 draw with Switzerland on Saturday.